October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1048
Can a non-signatory be forced into international arbitration?
GE Energy seeks to compel Outokumpu to arbitrate a tort claim. Outokumpu argues no written agreement exists.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Shay Dvoretzky argued for GE Energy. He stated the New York Convention does not prohibit enforcing the agreement against non-signatories.
Michael Ellis argued for Outokumpu. He stated the Convention requires a written agreement between the specific parties involved.
Chief Justice Roberts questioned the premise of forcing a non-signatory into arbitration. He noted arbitration is based on agreement.
Justice Ginsburg asked about the status of subcontractors when the contract was made. She noted GE Energy was not yet a subcontractor.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
GE Energy Power Conversion France SAS, Corp. and Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC dispute whether a non-signatory must arbitrate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 21, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-11
What each side wants
GE Energy wants the Court to allow enforcement of the arbitration agreement against Outokumpu.
Outokumpu wants the Court to reject the arbitration demand and allow the case to proceed in court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-37
What each side says
GE Energy argues the New York Convention does not prohibit enforcing the agreement against non-signatories.
Outokumpu argues the New York Convention requires a written arbitration agreement between the specific parties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-37
What the justices asked
Justice Gorsuch asked if the doctrine exists without prejudging its existence.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if a party can force a non-signatory into arbitration despite a right to court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
Why it matters
This case determines whether non-signatories can be compelled into international arbitration. It affects the scope of the New York Convention. It impacts how parties structure international contracts. It defines the boundary between arbitration and court litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-51 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.